Jan 19, 2023
Jon Kaufman, CEO Global Water First
Philanthropic Investments: New Funding Strategies

Jon Kaufman is a 14-year Rotarian and Major Donor, first in the SF Bay Area and now in Colorado Springs. Recently retired from his Silicon Valley marketing company, Jon is now full time as CEO of Global Water First, an impact investment group. He also heads H2OpenDoors, the project that the Rotary Club of Edina has worked alongside to create purified drinking water at Escuintla Hospital in Guatemala.

Jon wrote a book, Long Walk on a Dry Road, about the adventures that over 550 Rotarians and friends have joined throughout the world. While they all claim to be Water Warriors, Jon believes that the 40 installations in 15 countries is more about self-reliance, lifting villages to become independent and sustainable. He is also a Steward of The Council for Inclusive Capitalism at the Vatican. It is the ambition of Global Water First over the next five years to install 1000 water enterprises, most run by women.

Jon lives with his fiancé, Lisa and their 90-pound Alaskan Malamute in Colorado. He has 32 years old son named Joey, who has stepped into the family marketing business back in California. Jon’s believes that most of the world’s most chronic challenges can be solved with just a little technology… and a whole lot of soul.